James Percival THOMSON

Regimental number3145
Place of birthSale, Victoria
Other NamesJohn Percival
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationShop assistant
AddressHillside Crescent, Epping, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19
Height5' 4.25"
Weight134 lbs
Next of kinFather, S. Thomson, Hillside Crescent, Epping, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed for 1 year in the 19th Infantry, Citizen Military Forces; still serving at time of AIF enlistment.
Enlistment date7 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll7 July 1915
Place of enlistmentLiverpool, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name2nd Battalion, 10th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/19/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A69 Warilda on 8 October 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll54th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19-20 July 1916
Place of burialAustralian Cemetery (V.C Corner No. 11), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial		160
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Joined 2nd Bn, Tel el Kebir, 21 January 1916.

Transferred to 54th Bn, 14 February 1916; joined 54th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Posted missing, 19/20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19/20 July 1916'.

Note, Red Cross File No 2730608: 'No trace Germany[.] Cert. by Capt. Mills 10-10-19.'

Statement, 4797 Pte G.S. HICKEY, B Company, 54th Bn, 25 May 1917: 'They [THOMSON and 2875 F. SMITH] were in B Co., and were killed between our line and the German line at Fromelles by artillery fire ... I believe their bodies were left out in the open.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, THOMSON James Percival
Red Cross file 2730608
Red Cross file 2740301